Page 49

VHEX

Iris passes out on my cock.

Azrid keeps flicking his tongues. Her sleepy pussy tightens and rolls a few more times, milking me fucking dry.

“Fuck, baby.” I curl around her and bury my face in her soft shoulder.

Her silks never let go.

Why should I?

Still alive. Still mine.

I want to watch her face while she sleeps.

I lift her enough to spin her around, then slide Iris back down on my cock, popping its buttons to keep her pinned in her seat.

She makes a sleepy moan and sinks into me, hugging my ribs.

Kind of burrowing.

I feel her seeking my heat, all her defenses down.

Her soul shimmers this perfect, mermaid blue.

Pure and so fucking strong.

I hug her tight and breathe her scent.

Thanks to her, my head is crystal fucking clear.

I remember I have business to handle.

When her breathing steadies, slow and deep, I glare at the vampire. He’s still watching her from his knees. We need to talk.

Azrid kisses her thigh on his way out. After his freaky face tentacles tuck their shit away, he runs his real tongue around his mouth hole.

Talk? Yes. His eyes are too glassy, and his mental chuckle sounds giddy as hell. Where shall we begin?

The bat is tripping balls on my venom.

I should be more pissed, but Iris .

Even sleeping all cute with her forehead tucked against my throat, her sweet-mint soul chills my silks right the fuck out.

I want to sleep inside her, feel her moving, feel her feelings and her beating heart.

Like we’re one soul, not two.

Let’s talk about the lich we’re gonna murder.

Which lich? Azrid asks.

Both. The little one first. My claws burn, but I stop their tips from sharpening. Iris is resting on my lap. He needs to taste hellfire.

For once, we agree. Azrid’s eyes turn black when he grins.

He’s always next on my kill list, but I can’t help grinning back. Flames simmer in my veins. Let’s have some fun.

Yes. We should set an example.

We both nod.

Touch her and die isn’t enough.

Look at her = die.

Breathe on her = die.

Speak her name = die.

You have one, half-second thought about my girl, and I’ll feed you your own fucking liver— after I take a slice and curse you to an eternity in my personal hot tub in hell.

Iris.

Is.

Mine.

Send us back to my room. I want Iris in my nest.

No.

There’s someone she needs to meet.

She’s too tired.

I know. I scowl at the vamp. Clear-headed, I feel way too fucking much of what he feels. And you know why it has to be now.

Tomorrow might not come.

Not for me and the bat, at least.

Five minutes. I’ll be watching.

His shadows are more careful with Iris in my arms. I don’t resist their pull. For once, they wink me out standing instead of dumping me on my ass.

I stick a ball of fire to the ceiling. Pink light bathes the cell where I sleep, if I can. My feet crinkle on the fireproof blankets. I carry Iris two steps to the shelf I hollowed out of the rock with my claws.

She makes soft noises when I move. Her deep pussy muscles grip, then relax, grip, then relax, hypnotizing my cock. I can’t help fucking her. Just a little bit. Gripping her ass. Tilting her hips.

I spring-pump my cock and stir her around until her clit kisses my fin.

“ Vhex .” Her sleepy moan tastes like syrup.

“Fuck. Rissy. Baby.” Hot, wet, and pulsing, she coats my bony ridge. “Don’t wake up. Let me fuck you to sleep.”

“Mmm.” Iris swings her arms around my neck. Her head droops, and her cool, soft cheek brushes my ear.

Greedy as hell, my silks hug her light.

She feels all sleepy and safe and dreamy.

I keep teasing her clit and gently rocking into her as I introduce her to the pile of bones. “Wife. This is Rhat. Your brother-in-law.”

Brother. This is my Guide. Iris.

Rhat doesn’t answer now.

I only hear his voice when I’m rampaging.

This time, I swear his skull gives Iris the nod.

Nanny’s body was long gone by the time I killed my way out of the dungeon. Rhat’s bones were all I could save.

Without him, I’d still be underground, tortured and used.

Joke’s on the dead, old duke.

Nobody tortures me better than me —hellfire runs in my veins.

Only Iris can make me whole.

I prop her carefully against the rock wall, cupping her cheek and watching her face.

I pulse into her steady and slow. I feel her pleasure like it’s mine, only it’s sweeter. More intense. I could fuck her forever, just this slow, chasing the tremble in her muscles and kissing the spots that make her glow.

Unconsciously, Iris hugs me tighter. Her energy flows through my meridians, working my silks, even now.

She’s too fucking magical.

Too fucking special.

I stroke her hair, then reach past her and spin Rhat’s skull to face the wall.

Just because we’re brothers and he’s dead doesn’t mean he gets to watch.

I don’t thrust hard, letting her sleep.

Following her heartbeats, I just pulse, hitting deep.

I want to go deeper.

Merge our souls.

“Vhex,” Iris gasps and clings to my shoulders. Her hips start to twitch. Even her silks writhe—desperate, just like mine.

“Imprint,” she mutters, still not awake. “Can’t… I can’t…”

Guides read emotions better than Sentinels. But even I can’t miss the sad, bitter tang, pouring off her silks.

“I’m yours.” I thrust as deep as I can reach and hold us there, drenched in her wetness and the sweetness of her soul. Let her feel what I feel . “There can never be anyone else. Only you.”

I kill the ones I love.

But not her .

Not this time.

I flick my fin, teasing her favorite spot.

She comes in little bursts, shaking and softly moaning, never fully waking up. But her silks burrow into me, craving more.

When her writhing slows, she slumps against me, so perfectly content. My heart near fucking bursts.

“Only you, Iris.” I lean her back, needing a kiss.

I taste the sweet mint of her lips.

Then everything goes black.

Shadows yank us through the dark.

I land on my ass.

Iris lands in Azrid’s arms.

Still wet, still so fucking hard, my cock slingshots back against my stomach.

I hiss. “Give her back.”

Azrid checks her over—as if I’d even let her sneeze.

Control yourself. He sneers, switching to the inner voice that grates my brain. She needs rest.

She was happy resting on my cock.

I scramble to follow as Azrid tucks her into his bed.

His sheets smell like dusty vampire ass. I spoon around Iris and bury my face in her shoulder, inhaling her instead.

The mattress jostles. Azrid shifts against her other side. Something wriggles against my knee.

I flick off the shadows. I can’t do more without stirring Iris. Unbothered, the creepy tentacles lick between her thighs, leaving her skin clean and dry.

I snort. You like my flavor, Azrid? Want me to bite you direct? Or maybe now you want to suck it straight from my?—

What if I refuse to filter your venom?

You won’t. He can’t. The bastard is just like me. You like my venom, Azrid. And you fucking love what it does to her blood.

Oh? You noticed?

Wish the fuck I hadn’t.

Yes, Azrid whispers, tracing her lips with shadowy fingertips.

The venom invigorates her blood. I can sate myself on a few drops while saving Iris from your thrall.

She remains healthy. Uncorrupted. The perfect balance.

Still drunk as fuck, he cackles in my head.

How far we’ve fallen. We need each other now.

I shudder and bury my face in Iris’s skin. Hell is real.